CDC and CMS Alert – “Super-bug” CRE on the Rise

Infections with the deadly Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are on the rise in hospitals nationwide, and are a serious threat to public health according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Due to the movement of patients throughout the healthcare system, if CRE are a problem in one facility, then typically they are a problem in other facilities in the region as well as in the home. Home health agencies may want to alert staff about CRE and steps to take if an infection is suspected.

CDC and CMS Sound Alarm on “Nightmare” Bacteria

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CMS are asking your assistance in tackling what may be one of the most pressing patient safety threats of our time—carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). CDC recently released a reporton the presence of CRE in U.S. inpatient medical facilities, demonstrating that action is needed now to halt the spread of these deadly bacteria. We are asking for rapid action from healthcare leaders to ensure that infection prevention measures are aggressively implemented in your facilities and those around you.

Enterobacteriaceae are a family of more than 70 bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli, that normally live in the digestive system. Over time, some of these bacteria have become resistant to a group of antibiotics known as carbapenems, often referred to as last-resort antibiotics. During the last decade, CDC has trackedone type of CRE from a single healthcare facility to facilities in at least 42 states. In some healthcare facilities, these bacteria already pose a routine threat to patients.

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 18th, 2013 at 7:39 am and is filed under News & Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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